Top Gun director falls to his death in thoroughly awful suicide

TOP GUN director Tony Scott, younger brother of Ridley, has committed suicide after falling to his death from a bridge in Los Angeles.

Scott’s death has sent Hollywood into instant grieving, with celebrities taking to twitter to offer sympathies and pay tribute. The director was responsible for some of the most fun films in cinema, such as Enemy of the State, Days Of Thunder, True Romance and Beverly Hills Cop II. Ron Howard went for a simple: “No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day.” Martha Plimpton meanwhile said: “So very, very sorry to hear of the death of Tony Scott. A terrible, terrible loss of a truly talented, brilliant man.”

Director Duncan Jones: “Just heard about Tony Scott news. Horrible… Tony was a truly lovely man who took me under his wing & ignited my passion to make films. Awww Tony. Wish you had felt there was a way to keep going. What a sad waste. My thoughts go out to his wife and beautiful children.”

While producer Andy Lassner said: “Haunted by Tony Scott’s suicide today. Depression is real and should be treated as such.”

So what happened? Well, the director, born in North Shields and frequently seen with his trademark faded red cap, died after falling nearly 200 feet from the Vincent Thomas Bridge, at lunchtime on Sunday. Witnesses have reported seeing the father-of-two parking his car near the bridge, before he climbed a 10 foot fence on the south side of its apex before leaping off “without hesitation.”

The US Coast Guard said officials had found a note listing contact information inside his car and a suicide note was later found at Scott’s LA office.

Today, it was believed that his actress wife, Donna Scott, who appeared in several of her husband’s films, was being comforted by friends and family, along with her twin boys Frank and Max. “I can confirm that Tony Scott has indeed passed away,” said his publicist, Simon Halls. “The family asks that their privacy be respected at this time.”

And the tributes kept coming, with Stephen Fry stating that he was “deeply saddened to hear the news about Tony Scott. A fine film-maker and the most charming, modest man,” with actor David Krumholtz adding; “shocked to hear of Tony Scott’s tragic death. He was a sweet, and funny man who loved making movies. His vision for Numb3rs was inspired.”

Only last year, Tom Cruise revealed that talks were underway about a sequel Top Gun and that he’d be reprising the role ‘Maverick’, and that a script was being developed with Scott and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

A port mortem examination will be performed later today, but the police are not treating Scott’s death as suspicious.